Sherlock sat alone on the floor of Bart's lab. He bounced a rubber squash ball off the cupboard in front of him catching it and repeating the pattern again.

'Keyland is in Ireland but I just know Richard is watching her. He said something about the final problem. And that would be who gets Keyland. He is going to kill me. She is in danger. The only possible way for this to work is for me to play dumb. Moriarty just wanted to kill me, which is why he set those killers after me. There is no Key. This is about Keyland.' He thought to himself.

John burst through the Lab doors.
"Got your message." John said.
Sherlock caught the ball fiddling with it in his hands.
"The computer code is key to this. If we find it, we can use it – beat Moriarty at his own game." Sherlock said, his mind working overtime.

"What do you mean, "use it"?" John asks.
"He used it to create a false identity, so we can use it to break into the records and destroy Richard Brook." Sherlock says.
"And bring back Jim Moriarty again." John says with a smile pointing at Sherlock.

Sherlock stood suddenly. "Somewhere in 221B, somewhere – on the day of the verdict – he left it hidden." Sherlock said, putting his plan into action.

"Uh-huh." John said unhelpfully.

They both stare off into space thoughtfully.

"What did he touch?" John asks.
"An apple. Nothing else." Sherlock said dismissively.

"Did he write anything down?" John prompts.
"No." Sherlock lied, thinking about the apple.

'It's time. Time to start the game.' Sherlock thought to himself as he typed out a quick message to Moriarty.

[Come and play.
Bart's Hospital rooftop.
SH]

He pauses for a moment, then adds:

[PS. Got something
of yours you might
want back.]

Sending the message, he tucks his phone away into his jacket and then turns back towards the bench, his eyes full of thought.

{A few hours later, near dawn.}

John had fallen asleep. Sherlock couldn't 'How could I?' He thought. 'At a time like this.'

John's phone rang dragging him out of his slumber.

"Yeah, speaking...Er, what?" John stands quickly to his feet. What happened? Is she okay? Oh my Gosh. Right, yes, I'm coming!" John says frantically.

"What is it?" I ask, already knowing it was Mycroft fulfilling his end of our deal.
"Paramedics. Mrs Hudson – she's been shot!" John exclaimed.
"What? How?" I say in fake surprise.
"Well, probably one of the killers you managed to attract... She's dying, Sherlock. Let's go." He says worriedly, walking towards the door.
"You go. I'm busy." I say feigning disinterest.
"Busy?!" John asks clearly baffled.
"Thinking. I need to think." I say simply.
"You need to ...? Doesn't she mean anything to you? You once half killed a man because he laid a finger on her."
"She's my landlady." I say disinterestedly.
"She's dying ..." John gasps furiously. "You machine."
John shook his head angrily.
"Sod this. Sod this." John said angrily. "You stay here if you want, on your own."
"Alone is what I have. Alone protects me."

"No. Friends protect people." John tossed over his shoulder storming out of the room.
I watched John leave with a heavy heart. I knew what was coming. My phone chirped.

[I'm waiting...
JM]

I left my post at the desk and walked over to the doorway grabbing my jacket. To protect my friends... And the woman I love. I would face him yet again.